A Man Should Never Say He Can't Do It

After resting in place for ten minutes, the group set off again.

After walking forward for about a hundred meters, they entered another dense stretch of jungle. However, this part of the forest was quite different from the one they had encountered when they first entered the mountain.

The previous woods had been dry, and the path had been relatively easier to navigate.

Now, due to the higher altitude and the nearby river, the forest was much more humid.

Fallen branches and rotting leaves covered the barely visible trail, emitting a foul, decaying odor.

The trees here were also thicker than those at the mountain’s entrance, their trunks covered in moss and vines, giving the impression of stepping into the Amazon rainforest.

Pan Ning paused, scanning their surroundings before looking back at the hand-drawn map in her hands.

"What’s wrong?" Su Yang asked beside her.

"Nothing, just checking our bearings."

"Are you sure we’re supposed to go this way?"

"Yeah, I saw a video posted by a hiker before—this is the exact route."

Su Yang thought for a moment. "Do you still have that video?"

"I do." Pan Ning pulled out her phone and opened Douyin to search for the video she had liked and saved.

However, the screen kept spinning endlessly.

"The signal here is terrible. Never mind, let’s not bother. I know the way. See that peak over there?"

Pan Ning pointed toward a distant mountaintop peeking through the trees to their upper right.

Su Yang tilted his head. "That’s our destination?"

"Yep, we just need to keep heading in that direction."

"Alright, let’s go then."

"Be careful, everyone. This part is much tougher than the earlier stretch," Su Yang called out to the group.

"Got it!"

With that, the ten of them stepped into the damp forest.

As they moved through the woods, the vines coiled around the tree trunks like living pythons, some even dangling from branches to block their path.

Occasionally, strange animal calls echoed around them.

Lu Yun, Tang Ziyun, and the other girls grew increasingly uneasy.

"Su Yang, Pan Ning, are you sure this is the right way? It feels like we’re heading deeper into Qianye Mountain. We didn’t hear any weird sounds earlier, but now they’re everywhere. Something doesn’t feel right," Tang Ziyun voiced her concern.

Pan Ning turned to reply, "Those are just bird calls. We’re still far from the inner regions of Qianye Mountain. The endpoint is through this forest, then another few hundred meters uphill."

"Going around from the outside would take forever."

Su Yang chimed in with a reassuring smile, "Don’t worry, Xiao Tang. Those are just the calls of black drongos—pretty common in forests."

"Really? Okay, as long as we’re not entering the inner zones. If we run into any wild beasts, we’re done for!"

Liu Bo, who had picked up a stick at some point, waved it around confidently. "Relax, Xiao Tang. With me and Yang around, you’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ve trekked through forests like this countless times back in my army days—no big deal."

"And honestly, compared to some of the terrifying jungles I’ve been in, this is nothing. Ever heard of the Amazon? Yeah, I’ve been there too."

Hearing Liu Bo’s bold claims, Tang Ziyun finally relaxed a little.

Su Yang frowned and leaned closer to Liu Bo, whispering, "Since when have you been to the Amazon?"

"Shh! I made that up. Where would I get the chance to go to the Amazon?"

"Seriously? You lie without even blinking."

Liu Bo grinned. "Hey, it’s to keep everyone’s spirits up."

"Fine, fine. Let’s keep moving."

"But Yang, there’s one thing that does bother me."

"What’s that?"

Liu Bo lowered his voice. "This area’s pretty damp. You think there might be snakes around?"

Su Yang smirked and nodded. "In a wild mountain like this? Absolutely. The deeper we go, the higher the chances. And we’re likely to run into venomous ones—short-tailed vipers, cobras—they’re all over the southwestern part of Tianhai Province."

Liu Bo’s face twisted in horror. "Wait, seriously?"

Seeing his reaction, Su Yang raised an eyebrow. "What? You scared of snakes?"

"Who—who said I’m scared? I’m not afraid of bears, why would I be scared of snakes? That’s ridiculous."

Su Yang shook his head. "Stop digging yourself deeper. The more you explain, the more obvious it is."

"Really? Is it that obvious?"

"You tell me. Can’t you feel it?"

Liu Bo finally gave up the act. "Alright, fine. I admit it—I’m terrified of snakes. Not just a little, but a lot. I don’t know why, but legless, slithering reptiles give me the creeps. Just thinking about them makes my skin crawl."

"Then watch your step. Wouldn’t want you accidentally stepping on a cobra and passing out."

"Stop, Yang! Just imagining that gives me goosebumps."

"Never thought I’d see the day—Liu Bo, scared of something."

"It’s normal to be scared of snakes! Lots of people are. I’m not the only one."

"Relax, I’m not afraid. Unless we run into a python as thick as you, we’ll be fine."

"Hey, that comparison doesn’t sit right with me."

Su Yang patted his shoulder. "Enough chatter. Focus on walking."

......

The ten of them trudged through the damp jungle, their progress slow and laborious.

They maintained their earlier formation, with Su Yang and the others leading the way.

Due to the rough terrain, they had already been trekking through the dense woods for over forty minutes.

Ji Bo, panting heavily, waved a hand. "Yang, how much longer? Feels like we’ve been walking forever and still haven’t gotten out."

"This forest is tough, and it’s huge. We’ve still got a ways to go. Hang in there."

"Ugh, I can’t take it anymore. I think I’ve got blisters."

Liu Bo shot him a disdainful look. "Man up, will you? Blisters after just this little walking?"

"I don’t know for sure, but my feet are killing me."

"Tough it out. A real man doesn’t admit weakness!"

Ji Bo groaned in frustration. "Come on, bro, I never exercise. Can’t we take another break? I’m dead on my feet."

"Ugh, you’re hopeless. Good thing we’re just hiking. If this were a life-or-death situation, you’d be the first to go."

"Don’t jinx me, man. Just let me rest."

"Fine, fine."

Su Yang chuckled and called out to Pan Ning. "Pan, let’s stop for a bit. Ji Bo’s exhausted again."

Pan Ning turned to see Ji Bo already sitting on a pile of dead leaves. She nodded. "Alright, take a break."

"Let's take another ten-minute break, and after this one, we'll push straight to the summit!" Su Yang called out to the group behind him.

"Got it!"

He took a sip from his water bottle and walked over to the others.

Approaching Lu Yun and the two others, Su Yang crouched down with a smile. "You three doing okay? Not too tired?"

Lu Yun had fine beads of sweat on her forehead, and a few strands of hair clung to her flushed cheeks. Her face was rosy, making her look especially sweet and endearing.

"We're fine," she replied.

"Still saying you're fine when you're sweating like this? Here, wipe it off." Su Yang pulled out a pack of tissues from his backpack, opened it, and handed them to each of the three.

"Make sure to drink some water too."

Meng Qianyu was also panting heavily, sitting on the ground with her face just as red.

"I'll hold off for now. I don’t have much water left—I’ll drink once we reach the top."

Su Yang shook his head with a chuckle, then silently pulled out an unopened bottle of water from his bag and handed it to her.

"Here, drink up. Don’t worry—my bag’s got nothing but water in it."

"Wait, your whole huge backpack is just filled with water?"

"Yep."

"Isn’t that heavy?"

"Sure is, but it’s manageable for me. Anyone running low, just come to me."

Meng Qianyu nodded gratefully, quickly opening the bottle and taking two big gulps.

Su Yang was surprised by the girls' resilience. A hiking trail of this difficulty was usually brutal for people who didn’t exercise regularly. Yet, none of the girls who’d joined them had complained—which was downright unbelievable.

Especially someone like Meng Qianyu, a rich heiress, tagging along on a trek through these remote, signal-dead mountains.

It didn’t make sense to him. ‘Aren’t spoiled rich girls supposed to be entitled and high-maintenance? Huh. Weird.’

"Alright, rest up. I’ll go check on the others."

Su Yang turned and walked back. Just as he reached Pan Ning and Liu Bo, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he frowned at the dense woods ahead.

"What’s wrong?" Liu Bo noticed the shift in Su Yang’s expression and followed his gaze.

About ten meters away, hovering roughly a meter above the ground between the trees, a patch of translucent mist had materialized out of nowhere.

"What the—? Since when did fog roll in?"